Israelis are again in the streets in large numbers, protesting the actions of the Netanyahu government that many of us view as clearly violating Jewish values and the Jewish people’s long-cherished vision of a Jewish state that is democratic, just, pluralistic, and at peace. That includes moves to undermine democracy in Israel; leaving Israeli hostages languishing in Gaza; failing to ensure the security of Israel prior to the Oct. 7th attacks; abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank; blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza residents; and more. Here is a direct quote from Israel’s 1948 Declaration of Independence:
“THE STATE OF ISRAEL will be open for Jewish immigration and for the In gathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.”
The excesses of the current Israeli government have eroded support for Israel around the world, and threaten its very existence; they also have prompted a rise in worldwide antisemitism.
Right now, there is a way that American Jews like us can influence things on the ground in Israel for the better. The World Zionist Congress, sometimes called the “Parliament of the Jewish People,” convenes every five years; it was founded by Theodore Herzl in 1897 in Basel, Switzerland, and to this day gives diaspora Jews an important voice in how things happen in Israel.
The WZC elects the leadership of the World Zionist Organization, which sets policies and influences the allocation of $1 billion a year for the next five years, including for significant institutions like the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Jewish National Fund. This is how the Reform Judaism movement in Israel is funded. Though this election has been happening every five years, I’d never heard of it until this year; nor had many people I know.
This year, the Union for Reform Judaism, with which CABI is affiliated and which is the largest Jewish denomination in North America, is making a big push to get as many of us as possible to vote for its VOTE REFORM slate in this election. Also making a big push: The ultra-Orthodox Haredi, whose slate shocked many by winning a large number of seats in 2020. They are attempting to expand that this year to use it as a lever for a push to defund Reform and Conservative Judaism in Israel, forcibly annex the West Bank, and roll back gains already made in the Jewish state for women’s rights, racial equality, religious pluralism, LGBTQ+ inclusion and more. Their view: You’re not Jewish unless you’re ultra-Orthodox.
According to the Times of Israel, “A top priority of Haredi politicians in recent decades has been to preserve the monopoly of Orthodox rabbis over official religious ceremonies in Israel and prevent the government from recognizing the liberal Jewish denominations — Reform and Conservative — that represent most American Jews.”
This year’s election is really important. You are eligible to vote if you are Jewish, 18 or older, a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident, and care about the future of Israel as a Jewish state.
There is a $5 administrative fee to cover the cost of the election; each person must pay their own fee when they vote. Voting can be done online at zionistelection.org or on paper ballots that we have available at CABI, which then must include either a check or credit card information for the $5 fee. At the website, click on “Register & Vote Now.” You can read detailed instructions here.
There are a record number of slates — 22 — on this year’s ballot. Some are ultra-Orthodox. Some are progressive. Some are in between. None on their own will have the clout that a big turnout from North America’s largest Jewish denomination will have at this critical time for Israel’s future. Please consider voting; you can make a difference. Have questions about any of this? Go to vote4reform.org, or contact me or Rabbi Appel; I can be reached at bzrussell@gmail.com, and Rabbi Appel can be reached at rabbiappel@cabi-boise.org.